Machine for packaging newspapers

ABSTRACT

A HORIZONTAL, CONTINUOUSLY MOVING CONVEYOR ADAPTED TO CARRY NEWSPAPERS INDIVIDUALLY IN A FLAT POSITION TO AN ENVELOPING STATION WHERE THE NEWSPAPERS ARE PACKAGED IN A PROTECTIVE FILM. THE ENVELOPING STATION HAS A TRANSPORT MECHANISM THAT IS ACTUATED RESPONSIVE TO A NEWSPAPER SENSOR LOCATED AT THE CONVEYOR. TWO ROLLS OF PROTECTIVE FILM ARE SUPPORTED ABOVE AND BELOW THE PLANE OF THE CONVEYOR TO ROTATE ABOUT HORIZONTAL AXES SO AS TO FEED FILM TO THE ENVELOPING STATION. THE ENDS OF THE TWO ROLLS OF FILM ARE SEALED TOGETHER ACROSS THE ENTRANCE TO THE ENVELOPING STATION. AS EACH NEWSPAPER APPROACHES THE ENVELOPING STATION, THE SENSOR ACTUATES THE TRANSPORT MECHANISM OF THE ENVELOPING STATION, THEREBY MOVING THE NEWSPAPER THROUGH THE ENVELOPING STATION BEHIND THE SEALED ENDS OF THE TWO ROLLS OF FILM. CONSEQUENTLY, THE FILM ENVELOPS THE TOP AND BOTTOM SURFACES OF THE NEWSPAPER. AFTER THE NEWSPAPER PASSES THE SENSOR, THE TRANSPORT MECHANISM OF THE ENVELOPING STATION STOPS AND A FILM CUTTER AND SEALER IS ACTUATED. THE FILM IS THUS CUT AND SEALED TRANSVERSE TO ITS LENGTH NEAR THE ENTRANCE TO THE ENVELOPING STATION AND IS SEALED ALONG ITS SIDES. ONE TRANSVERSE SEAL IS UTILIZED FOR THE REAR EDGE OF ONE PACKAGED NEWSPAPER AND THE FRONT EDGE OF THE NEXT NEWSPAPER. THE TRANSPORT MECHANISM MOVES THE NEWSPAPER THROUGH THE ENVELOPING STATION AT A FASTER HORIZONTAL SPEED THAN THE CONTINUOUSLY MOVING CONVEYOR.

Feb. 2, 1.971 A. v. msm

MACHINE FOR PACKAGING NEWSPAPERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 28, 1969 INVENTOR. mfe/ 1./ Mf/ BY Feb. 2, 1971 A. v.v MlslK 3,559,367

y MACHINE FOR PACKAGING NEWSPAPERS i Filed Feb. 2s, 1969 A 2 sheets-sheet 2 J T INVE WOR.

United States Patent O 3,559,367 MACHINE FOR PACKAGING NEWSPAPERS Albert V. Misik, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Belco Engineering, Inc., Pasadena, Calif., a corporation of California Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 649,905,

June 29, 1967. This application Feb. 28, 1969, Ser.

Int. Cl. B65b 9/02, 57/12 U.S. Cl. 53-74 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A horizontal, continuously moving conveyor adapted to carry newspapers individually in a flat position to an enveloping station where the newspapers are packaged in a protective film. The enveloping station has a transport mechanism that is actuated responsive to a newspaper sensor located at the conveyor. Two rolls of protective film are supported above and below the plane of the conveyor to rotate about horizontal axes so as to feed lilm to the enveloping station. The ends of the two rolls of film are sealed together across the entrance to the enveloping station. As each newspaper approaches the enveloping station, the sensor actuates the transport mechanism of the enveloping station, thereby moving the newspaper through the enveloping station behind the sealed ends of the two rolls of ilm. Consequently, the film envelops the top and bottom surfaces of the newspaper. After the newspaper passes the sensor, the transport mechanism of the enveloping station stops and a fihn cutter and sealer is actuated. The film is thus cut and sealed transverse to its length near the entrance to the enveloping station and is sealed along its sides. One transverse seal is utilized for the rear edge of one packaged newspaper and the front edge of the next newspaper. The transport mechanism moves the newspaper through the enveloping station at a faster horizontal speed than the continuously moving conveyor.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to newspaper packaging and, more particularly, to a machine for eiciently packaging newspapers in a protective lilm.

The major portion of the circulation of most newspapers is delivered to the home of the readers. The labor involved in home delivery makes this operation expensive. Newspapers are commonly printed and delivered to the local distributor a section at a time as the sections are completed. In this way, an eicient use is made of labor and equipment. Further, many features requiring long preparation can be reported as lwell as the most current news, which is contained in the last section to arrive at the distributor. A great deal of time is expended by the distributor in assembling the sections of the newspaper prior to home delivery. To prevent the sections from coming apart, they are folded inside one another. In the case of many Sunday newspapers, for example, the process of assembling the sections of the newspaper begins about a week in advance and proceeds gradually until the time of delivery.

For many years, it has been the practice of delivery boys to roll or fold each newspaper into a bundle in order to throw it more easily without having it come apart. Recently newspaper distributors started packaging newspapers in a protective film during bad weather to prevent them from becoming wet. Following the common practice, each newspaper is rolled or folded into a bundle and then packaged. When the newspaper is a thick one, the packaged bundle is difficult to grasp because of its large diameter and slick outer surface. When the packaging operation is performed by hand, it further adds to the time required to prepare the newspaper for delivery. There are machines in existence for rolling the newspapers in a bundle and packaging them in a protective lm. These machines are, however, complex and difficult to operate. There are also machines in existence for packaging elongated articles other than newspapers. However, these machines do not meet the special problems presented by newspaper packaging.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a feature of the invention, a continuously moving conveyor is adapted to carry newspapers individually in a iiat horizontal position to an enveloping station where they are packaged in a protective iilm. Preferably, the conveyor has a plurality of stations each capable of receiving a newspaper en route to the enveloping station. As the conveyor stations move continuously toward the enveloping station, the different sections of the newspaper can be assembled simply by placing one section on top of the other. It is not necessary to fold the sections inside of one another because the package holds the sections of the newspaper together.

Another feature of the invention is that each newspaper is maintained in a flat horizontal position while it is being enveloped by the protective film. Specifically, an envelopingy station is provided having a transport mechanism and two rolls of protective film supported above and below the plane of the conveyor belt to rotate about horizontal axes. Prior to the entrance of the newspaper into the enveloping station, the ends of the two rolls of film are sealed together across the entrance of the enveloping station. As the paper is moved through the enveloping station, it pushes the sealed ends of the protective lilm in front of it, thereby enveloping its top and bottom surfaces in the lm. The transport mechanism moves the paper through the enveloping station at a faster speed than the continuously moving conveyor. Thus, it is not possible for the continuously moving conveyor to feed newspapers to the enveloping station at a faster rate than the newspapers are packaged.

The transport mechanism of the enveloping station is actuated responsive to a sensor located at the conveyor. As each newspaper on the conveyor approaches the enveloping station, the transport mechanism is actuated by the sensor and the newspaper continues to move from the conveyor through the enveloping station. After the newspaper has passed the sensor and is completely within the enveloping station, the transport mechanism is deactuated. At the same time, a lrn cutter and sealer is actuated. Thereafter, as the next newspaper approaches the enveloping station, the sensor again actuates the transport mechanism to move the packaged newspaper out of the enveloping station and replace it with the next newspaper.

Another feature of the invention is the particular construction of the transport mechanism. Specifically, a transport conveyor is adapted to carry newspapers individually in a liat, horizontal position through the enveloping station from a point adjacent to the end of the continuously moving conveyor. A pivotable, rotatable cylinder is disposed above the entrance of the transport conveyor so its surface moves tangentially in the same direction as the transport conveyor. The cylinder is urged downwardly toward the conveyor. As a result, the cylinder and the transport conveyor both engage the newspaper during its transport through the enveloping station despite variations in the thickness of the newspapers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The features of a specific embodiment of the invention are illustrated in the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a machine incorporating the features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the machine of FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C are views illustrating the construction of the cutting and sealing mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF A SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT Reference is now made to FIGS. l and 2 in which a horizontal frame 1 is supported by legs such as 2, 3, and 4. A conveyor 8 is formed by an endless belt 5 extending between drums 6 and 7. Drums 6 and 7 are mounted on frame 1 by means not shown to rotate about horizontal axes displaced from one another. A variable speed motor 9 is mounted to the underside of frame 1. During the operation of the machine, drum 6 is continuously driven through a belt 18 by motor 9 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. l. Consequently, the top of belt moves continuously from right to left as viewed in FIG. 1 toward the entrance of an enveloping station 10. Since conveyor 8 is driven continuously, its speed can be varied to meet changing circumstances without affecting the speed of the enveloping operation. Moreover, continuous operation of conveyor 8 permits newspapers to be packaged at a given rate while conveyor 8 is moving slower, thus making assembly of the parts of the newspaper easier for the workers, and the large inertia associated with the number of newspapers on conveyor 8 does not have to be overcome repeatedly in the course of the packaging operation. A plurality of separators 11 are attached to belt 5 at intervals along its length slightly longer than the length of a standard newspaper. Separators 11, which protrude perpendicularly from the surface of belt 5, define stations in which newspapers 12 are carried in a flat, horizontal position to enveloping station 10. Vertical guide walls 13 and 14, which extend along the edges of belt 5, are spaced apart a distance corresponding to the width of a standard newspaper. Thus, belt 5 is adapted to carry a plurality of newspapers individually in a fiat, horizontal position to enveloping station l10. As described, conveyor `8 is arranged so it is convenient to assemble the sections of the newspapers as the conveyor stations move toward enveloping station 10. Specifically, one or more operators can place the sections of each newspaper one on top of the other as the conveyor stations move by.

A light source 15 is located above belt 5 as the end adjacent enveloping station 10. Source 15 directs a beam of light through an opening in a support plate 17 to a photoelectric cell 16 located in its line of sight below belt 5. Source 15 and photoelectric cell 16 serve as a sensor to determine when a newspaper carried by conveyor 8 is about to enter enveloping station 10 and when the newspaper has advanced completely into enveloping station 10. Instead of an optical sensor, a mechanical sensor such as a spring-loaded vertically movable arm that rides on the newspaper could be employed.

Enveloping station 10 includes a roll 21 of thin protective film supported by means not shown to rotate about a horizontal axis located below the plane in which newspapers move on conveyor 8 and a roll 22 of thin protective film supported by means not shown to rotate about a horizontal axis located above the plane in which conveyor 8 moves. The ends of the rolls of film, which could be, for example, polyethylene, are sealed together along a line 23 located across the entrance of enveloping station 10. Rollers 24 and 25 and a bar 19 guide film from roll 22 to line 23, and a roller 26 guides film from roll 21 to line 23 such that the film from rolls 21 and 22 moves horizontally through station 10- in alignment.

A transport mechanism for moving a newspaper through enveloping station 10 is formed by a plurality of belts 27 forming a horizontal conveyor and a cylinder 28. Belts 27 extend between drums 29 and 30, which are mounted by means not shown to rotate about horizontal, spaced apart axes. Drum 29 is coupled to an intermittently operating motor 31 by a drive belt 32. Cylinder 28 is rotatably mounted between the ends of pivotable support arms 33 and 34, which are connected to a shaft 35. Shaft 35 is rotatably mounted to frame 1 and is urged in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1 by compression spring 36, which is fixed to frame 1. Thus, cylinder 28 and belts 27 normally contact each other in an imaginary plane extending from the top surface of belt 5. A double pulley 46 is rotatably mounted on shaft 35. A drive belt 47 couples motor 31 to pulley 46, and a drive belt 48 couples pulley 46 to cylinder 28. Thus, when motor 31 is operating, belts 27 and cylinder 28 rotate. Their drive systems are so designed that the tangential velocities of drum 30 and cylinder 28 are equal, and the horizontal speed of belts 27 is larger than the horizontal speed of conveyor 8. It is to be noted that by operating the transport mechanism at a higher speed than conveyor 8, the possibility is obviated that newspapers are fed to enveloping station 10 at a faster rate than enveloping station 10 can accommodate the newspapers. If the transport mechanism were not driven a't a higher speed than conveyor 8, it would be necessary to space the newspapers far apart from one another on conveyor 8. This would require that conveyor 8 be driven at a higher speed to attain a given packaging rate. However, when the newspapers engage the polyethylene film at the entrance of enveloping station 10 at such a higher speed, entanglement of the polyethylene and, therefore,

disablement of the machine may ensue.

When a newspaper being carried by conveyor 8 moves off the end of belt 5, over plate 17, and breaks the beam of light between source 15 and photoelectric cell 16, an electric circuit is completed that energizes motor 31. Motor 31 begins to operate, thereby causing belts 27 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1 and cylinder 28 to rotate in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1. The front edge of the newspaper then contacts rolls 21 and 22 of film near line 23 and pushes the film toward cylinder 28 and belts 27. As this occurs, film starts to unwind from rolls 21 and 22. Conveyor 8 continues to carry the front edge of the newspaper and the film until they move between cylinder 28 and belts 27. Once the film and the front edge of a newspaper are located between cylinder 28 and belts 27, they are transported horizontally from right to left as viewed in FIG. 1. Spring 36 maintains the surfaces of cylinder 28 and belts 27 in substantially nonslipping contact with the film and the surface of newspaper 12. As the newspaper and the film are transported, film is unwound from rolls 21 and 22, enveloping the lower and upper surfaces, respectively, of the newspaper. Cylinder 28 and belts 27 continue to rotate until the entire length of the newspaper has passed under source 15, at which time the beam of light from source 15 to photoelectric cell 16 is reestablished. After a short predetermined time delay sufficient to permit the transport of the rear edge of the newspaper to a point between cylinder 28 and belts 27, the energizing circuit for motor 31 is broken and the newspaper comes to rest in enveloping station 10, substantially between drums 29` and 30.

In response to the reestablishment of the beam between source 15 and photoelectric cell '16, an electric circuit is completed after the same predetermined time delay that actuates a film cutting and sealing mechanism 49, which is described in detail below in connection with FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C. Accordingly, the film from rolls 21 and 22 is cut and sealed while the newspaper is at rest in station 10. By the time that the cutting and sealing operation is completed, the front edge of the next newspaper breaks the beam between source |15 and photoelectric cell 16 to initiate the operation of motor 31 again. When motor 31 begins to operate again, the packaged newspaper in enveloping station is transported from right to left as viewed from FIG. 1 and off of frame 1 to a suitable storage area such as a delivery truc-k. At the same time, the newspaper from the next adjacent station of conveyor 8 moves into contact with the film,

the next newspaper pushes the film into enveloping stag tion .-10, and the procedure is repeated.

Film cutting and sealing mechanism 49 includes a frame having side arms 50 and 51 and a cross arm 52. Arms '50 and 5-1 are pivotably mounted to frame 1 at one end. An extendable arm 54 of an air cylinder 53 is rotatably connected to the top of cross arm 52. To actuate mechanism 49 responsive to the passage of the rear edge of each newspaper past source l and photoelectric cell 16, arm 54 of air cylinder 53, which is fixed to frame 1, is extended. Upon the extension of arm 54 of air cylinder 53, arms 50, 51, and 452 are lowered. To deactuate mechanism 49, arm 54 of air cylinder 53 is retracted again.

Arm 52 and its associated apparatus is shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. Wires 60 and I61 are connected to arm 52 and stretched along its length the full extent of the width of the film. Stationary pads 62 and 63 extend along the length of arm 52 positioned under wires 60 and 61, respectively. The film lies between wires 60 and 61 and pads '62 and I63 at the time of the cutting and sealing operation. A wire 64, which is supported at both ends by pivotable wire support members 65, extends the length of arm 52 between and below pads 62 and 63'. Wires 60, 61, and `64 are connected to a source of electrical power so they are heated sufficiently to form a good watertight seal between the film. Wires 60 and 61 are provided with insulation, however, so they are not as hot as wire 64. Screws 66 are mounted on both ends of arm 52 directly over pivotable members 65. As arms 50, 51, and 52 move downward in the course of the cutting and sealing operation, screws 66 contact pivotable members 65 and drive wire 64 upward through the film. |Being hot and sharp, wire 64 cuts through the film as it moves upward and seals both cut edges. At the same time, wires 60 and I61 press the -film against pads 62 and 63, respectively, to establish seals along the line of contact without cutting through the surface of the film. A cleaner cut in the -flm is made possible because the film on either side of the cut is held firmly against pads 62 and 63. In summary, a triple seal is formed transverse to the length of the film. Wire 60 and pad 62 form a seal set back slightly from the rear edge of the film covering the newspaper in enveloping station 10, while wire 64 forms a seal at the cut edge of this film. Similarly, wire 61 and pad 63 form a seal set back slightly from the front edge of the film that will cover the next newspaper about to enter enveloping station 10, while wire 64 forms a seal at the cut edge of this film. When arm 52 moves upward again at the end of the cutting and sealing operation, the force of gravity returns wire 64 to its original position below pads 62 and 63.

Arm 51 and its associated apparatus is shown in FIG. 3C. Arm 50 and its associated apparatus is identical thereto. A wire 67 is attached to both ends of arm 51. A source of electrical power is connected to wire 67 so it is hot enough to form a good watertight seal between the film without cutting through it. As arm 51 moves downward, the film on both sides of the newspaper is pressed together between wire 67 and a pad 68 to form a watertight seal.

A summary of the operation of the machine is as follows: Conveyor 8 moves continuously, carrying newspapers in a horizontal, at position to enveloping station 10. As each newspaper in turn breaks the path between source 15 and photoelectric cell 1-6, the transport mechanism is actuated to remove the packaged newspaper then in enveloping station 10` and replace it with the next newspaper. The front edge of this newspaper pushes the film near the sealed end through enveloping station 10 until this newspaper is completely enveloped by film. Responsive to the passage of the rear edge of this newspaper between source 15 and photoelectric cell 16, the transport mechanism stops, bringing the newspaper to rest, and the cutting and sealing mechanism is actuated. After this cutting and sealing operation is executed, the package is completed and the described operation is repeated on the next newspaper. The protective film forming the package conforms substantially to the fiat shape of the newspaper because it is constructed of two flat pieces of film sealed on all four sides.

lFilm cutting and sealing mechanism 49 could operate in one of two ways. It could be actuated for the entire period of time that the transport mechanism of the enveloping station l10 is deactuated, or it could be actuated for a constant period of time independent of the speed at which conveyor 8 carries newspapers to enveloping station 10. In the former case, a single relay having one normally open contact pair and one normally closed contact pair could control the operation of mechanism 49 and the transport mechanism. The relay coil would be in series circuit with source 15 and photoelectric cell 16, being energized while the light beam between source 15 and photoelectric cell 16 is unbroken and unenergized while the light beam is broken. The normally closed contact of the relay would be in series circuit with a source of electric energy for actuating air cylinder 53 and the normally open contact pair would be in series circuit with a source of electric energy that energizes motor 31.

If it is desired to package very thin newspapers, they can be folded in half along their width and still be accommodated by the machine disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2. In such case, less film is required to package the newspapers because the length of the folded newspapers is half of the full length. It should be noted that the machine provides a package just sufiicient to cover the newspaper whether it is one-half or full length. In surnmary, the length of the newspaper on which the machine operates is not critical because the front edge of the newspaper pushes the sealed ends of the two rolls of film and the rear edge causes the actuation of cutting and sealing mechanism 49.

IWhen two new rolls of film are loaded on the machine, their ends must be sealed together prior to the start of the packaging operation. This is accomplished by breaking the light beam between source 15 and photoelectric cell 16 and then placing the ends of the two rolls of film between arm 52 and pads 62 and 63. As the light beam is reestablished, cutting and sealing mechanism 49 is actuated and the ends of the two rolls of film are sealed together.

In a copending application of mine filed lune 29, 1967, now Pat. 3,405,796, a packaged newspaper that can be produced on the machine of the present invention is disclosed and claimed.

What I claim is:

1. A newspaper packaging machine for enveloping newspapers in sheets of film supplied from two rolls comprising:

a first horizontal conveyor for carrying newspapers individually in a fiat, horizontal position;

means for continuously driving the first conveyor;

a second horizontal conveyor beginning at the end of the first conveyor to accept newspapers carried by the first conveyor;

means for rotatably supporting the rolls` of film above and below the plane of the conveyor such that the rfilm from the rolls is fed between the first and second conveyors in alignment;

means responsive to the presence of each newspaper at a point between the first and second conveyors for intermittently driving the second conveyor only while such newspaper is present at the point so the second conveyor stops after such newspaper is on the second conveyor;

means responsive to the absence of such newspaper at the point between the first and second conveyors for sealing the film in a line across the length of the film and along the edges of the film around such newspaper after it is on the second conveyor;

a rotatable cylinder disposed above the beginning of the second conveyor to move tangentially in the same direction as the second conveyor; and

means for pivotably supporting and urging the cylinder toward the second conveyor so as to engage each newspaper moved by the second conveyor.

2. A newspaper packaging machine for enveloping newspapers in sheets of film supplied from two rolls comprising:

a first conveyor for carrying newspapers individually in a flat, horizontal position;

means for continuously driving the first conveyor;

a second conveyor beginning at the end of the first conveyor to accept newspapers carried by the first conveyor;

means for rotatably supporting the rolls of the film above and below the plane of the conveyor such that the film from the rolls is freely rotatable at all times and fed between the first and second conveyors in alignment;

means responsive to the presence of each newspaper at a point between the rst and second conveyorn for intermittently driving the Second conveyor only while such newspaper is present at the point so the second conveyor stops after such newspaper is on the second conveyor; and

means responsive to the absence of such newspaper at the point between the first and second conveyors for sealing the film in a line across the length of the film and along the edges of the film around such newspaper after it is on the second conveyor.

3. The machine of claim 2, in which the first conveyor has transverse newspaper separators disposed along its length.

4. A newspaper packaging machine for enveloping newspapers in sheets of film supplied from two rolls comprising:

a first conveyor for carrying newspapers individually in a fiat, approximately horizontal position;

means for continuously driving the first conveyor;

a second conveyor beginning at the end of the first conveyor to accept newspapers carried by the first conveyor;

means for rotatably supporting the rolls of film above and below the plane of the conveyor such that the film from the rolls is fed between the first and second conveyors in alignment;

means responsive to the presence of each newspaper at a point between the first and second conveyors for intermittently driving the second conveyor at a higher speed than the first conveyor and only while such newspaper is present at the point so the second conveyor stops after such newspaper is on the second conveyor; and

means responsive to the absence of such newspaper at the point between the first and second conveyors for sealing the film in a line across the length of the film and along the edges of the film around such newspaper after it is on the second conveyor.

5. The machine of claim 4, in which a rotatable cylinder is disposed above the second conveyor to rotate tangentially in the direction of transport of the second conveyor, the cylinder being pivotably supported so it is urged against the conveyor.

6. The machine of claim 4, in which the first conveyor has transverse members protruding from its surface along its length to define newspaper assembly stations.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,158,973 12/1964 Monaghan 53-182X 3,237,371 3/1966 Gerlach 53-182 3,355,857 12/1967 Tobey 53-182 TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 53-182 

